Recall!

Larry N. Gerston is professor of political science at San Jose State University and the author or co-author of seven books on state and national politics. His Public Policy Making in a Democratic Society: A Guide to Civic Engagement has been heralded as a breakthrough primer for citizen involvement. Likewise, his California Politics and Government: A Practical Guide (co-authored with Terry Christensen) has sold more than 100,000 copies as the most popular book in its field. A native Californian, Gerston has worked for a county supervisor and a state legislator. For the past twenty-three years, he has been the political analyst at NBC11 in the San Francisco Bay area. In addition, Gerston has published The Costco Experience: An Unofficial Survivor’s Guide, a hands-on, tongue-in-cheek book about the world of warehouse shopping. Terry Christensen is professor of political science at San Jose State University and the author or co-author of six books and many newspaper op-ed pieces. He is frequently consulted by local and national media concerning political issues in California and Silicon Valley. He is currently at work on new editions of Reel Politics: American Political Movies from Birth of a Nation to Platoon, and Local Politics: Governing at the Grassroots (both forthcoming in 2005). He has served on numerous civic committees and commissions and currently is a member of the Advisory Board of City Year/ Silicon Valley and Program Chair for the Commonwealth Club/Silicon Valley. In 1998, he was named San Jose State University’s Outstanding Professor.

• Preface -- Photos follow page 78 -- Part I. The Politics of Recall -- 1. The California Republic: More Like a Nation Than a State -- Land of Direct Democracy -- “California Sets the Pace”: Tom Brokaw, NBC News, -- October 8, 2003 California’s Economy: Ranking Sixth in the World If the State Were a Nation Diversity Compounded by Diversity Fractured Political Parties -- Out of History and Diversity: Opportunity—and Opportunists -- 2. Elements of a Perfect Storm -- The Power Crisis A Plunging Economy The Budget Deficit And Then the Rains Came . . . -- Part II. The Shaping of the Battle -- 3. The Legislature: Gridlock Defined -- The Problem of the Two-Thirds Vote -- The Term-Limits Paradox -- Safe Districts and Dangerous Legislative Conflicts -- Adding Fuel to the Fire -- 4. Governor Gray Davis: Triumph, Decline, Denial -- Who Is Gray Davis? -- Governor Davis: “Implement My Vision” -- Slow Reaction: A Governor in Denial Davis Agonistes -- 5. Qualifying for the Ballot: Right-Wing Conspiracy or Convergence of Interests? -- Qualifying for the Ballot Instigators and Visionaries -- The Stealth Campaign: The Internet and Talk Radio -- Darrell Issa’s Golden Egg -- Davis Fights Back -- Republicans Engaged -- An Election Is Ordered -- Part III. The Campaign -- 6. The 75-Day Sprint -- The Recall Goes to Court A Two-Part Affair -- Gray Davis: Defending Slippery Turf -- Arnold Schwarzenegger: Capitalizing on the Mystique of -- Cruz Bustamante: The Democratic Alternative -- Tom McClintock: The Conservative Conscience -- Peter Camejo: The Liberal Conscience -- Bill Simon, Peter Ueberroth, and Arianna Huffington: -- The Dropouts The Supporting Cast And the Winner Is . . . -- 7. The Issues -- Voter Concerns -- Candidate Positions -- The Economy and the Budget -- Education: We’re All for the Kids -- Energy: Crisis and Conspiracy Theories -- Immigration—and Immigrant Candidates -- Social Issues: Gay Rights, Gun Control, Abortion, and Women’s Rights Other Issues: The Environment, Health Care, and Political Reform Issues: The Bottom Line -- 8. Interest Groups: Taking Sides -- The Right: Conservative Groups and the Recall The Left: Liberal Groups and the Recall Labor: Rallying the Troops Business: A Winner at Last Indians: California’s Newest Players Follow the Money -- Personality Politics: Movie Stars and Political Stars A Different Sort of Election -- 9. The Campaigns and the Media: -- Whose Election Is It Anyway? -- The Campaigns: Shaping the Messages -- The Polls: What Did We Know and When Did We Know It? -- The Debates -- The News Media: Kill the Messenger Alternative Media: Celebrity Politics The Final Cliffhanger -- Part IV. The Outcome -- 10. Davis Loses the Recall Battle -- A “Normal” Political Campaign in an Abnormal Political Climate A Mandate for Change Key Factors -- The Schwarzenegger Surprise Voting Groups -- A Smooth Operation After All Anatomy of a Defeat -- 11. Recall and Political Stability in California: -- Can They Coexist? -- Putting the Pieces Back Together Lessons Learned -- The Permanence of Structural Issues California Recall: “Perfect Storm” or Trendsetter? -- The Uncertainty Ahead -- 12. Epilogue -- Out with the Old—In with the New -- Schwarzenegger the Activist -- Early Victories -- Early Defeats -- Early Compromises -- The Movie Star and the Bully Pulpit -- More to Come—But What? -- Appendix A: Recall Timeline -- Appendix B: The 2003 Recall Election and California Politics on the Internet Notes Index -- About the Authors